 | Argalvs and Parthenia |  |
Well; Argalus is come, and seekes about
In euery roome, to finde Parthenia out;
He askes, enquiers; but all lips are sparing
To be the authors of ill newes, not daring
To speake the truth; they all amazed stand;
And now, my Lord's as fearfull to demand;
Dares not enquire her health, lest his sad eare
Should heare such words, as he's afraid to heare:
All lips are boulted with a linnen barre,
And euery eye does, like a blazing star,
Portend some euill; no language findes a leake;
The lesse they speake, the more he feares to speake.
Faces grow sad; and euery priuate eare
Is turn'd a Closet for the whisperer;
He walkes the roome, and like an vnknowne stranger
They eye him; from each eye, he picks a danger;
At last, his lips not daring to importune
What none dare tell him, vnexpected fortune
Leads his rash steps into a darkned roome,
A place more black then night; No sooner come,
But he was welcom'd with a sigh, as deepe
As a spent heart could giue; he heard one weepe,
And by the noise of groanes and sobs was led
(Hauing none other guide) to the sad bed.
In euery roome, to finde Parthenia out;
He askes, enquiers; but all lips are sparing
To be the authors of ill newes, not daring
To speake the truth; they all amazed stand;
And now, my Lord's as fearfull to demand;
Dares not enquire her health, lest his sad eare
Should heare such words, as he's afraid to heare:
All lips are boulted with a linnen barre,
And euery eye does, like a blazing star,
Portend some euill; no language findes a leake;
The lesse they speake, the more he feares to speake.
Faces grow sad; and euery priuate eare
Is turn'd a Closet for the whisperer;
He walkes the roome, and like an vnknowne stranger
They eye him; from each eye, he picks a danger;
At last, his lips not daring to importune
What none dare tell him, vnexpected fortune
57
A place more black then night; No sooner come,
But he was welcom'd with a sigh, as deepe
As a spent heart could giue; he heard one weepe,
And by the noise of groanes and sobs was led
(Hauing none other guide) to the sad bed.
| Argalvs and Parthenia | |